Since then, both the Scottish national side and Toolis's fortunes have drastically turned around, and the 6ft7in 25-year-old has flourished having been handed leadership responsibilities by Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill.

He said: "At the start of the season, I spoke to Cockers and I have spoken to him a few times and he wants me to take more of a leadership role and develop myself as one of the main players in the pack and a lineout leader.

"He wants me to take that leadership role which is good for me because I enjoy trying to develop more of a talking role in the team and it is good because it takes my game forward.

"I am enjoying doing it and it makes my game better. You can only benefit from adding bits to your game.

"I ran the lineout in the autumn Tests and then back at Edinburgh and you can always improve so it is quite important, it builds confidence up.

While Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has plenty of options in the second row, Toolis has plenty of experience with fellow international lock Grant Gilchrist in the Scottish capital, and has enjoyed working alongside the 27-year-old.

He said: "We are working really well together especially in the lineout so he is playing really well and there is a lot of competition at second-row with Edinburgh and Scotland which is what you want."

Tadhg Furlong was named NatWest 6 Nations Man of the Match for Ireland's win over England

19 March 2018, 1:52pm

The final round of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations certainly didn't fail to deliver as Ireland secured just a third Grand Slam in their history, Scotland edged their way past Italy at the death in a thriller and Wales did enough to see off France in Cardiff.

Tadhg Furlong was named NatWest 6 Nations Man of the Match for Ireland's win over England

19 March 2018, 1:52pm

The final round of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations certainly didn't fail to deliver as Ireland secured just a third Grand Slam in their history, Scotland edged their way past Italy at the death in a thriller and Wales did enough to see off France in Cardiff.